Workshop: Application of Satellite Technologies for Emergencies Preparedness, Management and Response (EPMR) in Asia-Pacific Region

Introduction

Since the turn of the millennium, more than one million people have been killed and 2.3 billion others have been directly affected by natural disasters around the world. According to UN statistics, the Asia-Pacific region has the largest proportion of natural disasters in the world. The region covers more than 50% of the global fatalities associated with such disasters. Furthermore, natural disasters have themselves a tremendous impact on the poorest of the poor, who are often ill-prepared to deal with natural hazards and for whom a hurricane, an earthquake, or a drought can mean a permanent submersion in poverty.

Catastrophes, as well as death toll, lead to transport and communication networks destruction, paralyze government and authorities activity, which makes it hard or even impossible to assess the situation, provide fast and appropriate decisions and take countermeasures. Remote sensing technologies, especially all-weather-technologies, ensure a rapid and objective picture of the catastrophe’s scale and consequences, which is vital for the urgent rescue, humanitarian aid, and damage assessment. High-resolution images can help assess precisely the degree of damage from both natural and, especially, industrial disasters with comparatively small affected areas. At present time satellite monitoring data is becoming less expensive and more affordable for APEC developing economies.

Today, satellite monitoring of natural and industrial catastrophes and emergency situations has become an important required component of information support to regional emergency services, providing near real time on-line data (satellite images). Direct acquisition of satellite images using modern small size ground stations allows to accelerate on-line geo-spatial data processing for emergency management.

Satellite technology can improve observation and hasten response - satellite images efficiently combined with modern information-distribution methods can be sent rapidly to affected communities and local emergency agencies as early-warning before the disaster occurs, or as post-disaster maps to assist in recovery operations. Proper and timely application of modern satellite and communication technologies can help reduce the number of victims suffering from natural disasters as well as financial loss caused by them.

Main focus

The project is aimed at increasing APEC economies emergency preparedness, proper application of innovative satellite and communication technologies as well as better awareness and faster timely satellite data delivery and international cooperation for Emergencies Preparedness, Management and Response (EPMR) development.

The workshop will focus on the following issues:

• Specific characteristics of satellite technologies application for different types of emergencies (earthquakes, floods, wildfires, drought, sea surface oil pollution, etc.) in APEC region;
• Modern and prospective satellite systems (high resolution radars, small satellite constellations, etc.) and their application for EPMR – expectations and trends;
• International cooperation and mechanisms of fast remote sensing data delivery for EPMR;
• Crisis Management centers network development in Asia-Pacific Region.

Objectives

The workshop is intended to improve knowledge and capabilities of participants to apply satellite technologies for emergencies preparedness, management and response. The workshop agenda will include best experiences (especially on regional case studies), lecture and small groups guided discussions. Hand-on training will give participants an opportunity to experience satellite images processing.

The objective of the workshop is to exchange best practices and experiences in order to increase the APEC economies awareness in above-mentioned fields. The significant part of the workshop will take a discussion between satellite data end-users (disaster managers) and satellite designers and operators on their requirements and future trends. Their views will assist in influencing the development of future “emergency” satellites better corresponding to EP requirements.

The workshop will target specific objectives to ensure that participants will:

• share regional and international experience and upgrade practical skills and knowledge on application of satellite and communication technologies for EPMR;
• enhance understanding of modern satellite systems (high resolution radars, small satellite constellations, etc.), their capabilities, limitations and development trends applied for EPMR;
• enhance understanding of functioning of international mechanisms on remote sensing data acquisition and its urgent distribution in case of emergency;
• elaborate recommendations for future steps directed to support application of satellite technologies for EPMR in the region;
• elaborate recommendations for EPWG on further information exchange management.

The workshop will be organized by APEC, Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), EMERCOM Russia and Research & Development Center SCANEX.

Participants

It is planned to invite for participation in the workshop officials and experts from APEC economies emergency and environment ministries and agencies, international emergency organizations (Asian Disaster Reduction Center, Pacific Disaster Center, Center for International Disaster Information), space agencies (ROSCOSMOS, CSA, USGS, NOAA, NASA, CONAE, JAXA, CNSA, ESA, etc.), remote sensing satellites operators (Digital Globe, GeoEye, MDA, Astrium Geo, DMC Int., ImageSat, etc.), regional and international organizations dealing with satellite and communication technologies in case of emergencies (UN-SPIDER, The International Charter “Space and Major Disaster”, SENTINEL), GEONETCast, WMO, representatives from research and engineering, humanitarian and public organizations, NGOs that are using or going to adopt the technology for disaster reduction or emergency relief.

Planned outcome

The important part of the workshop will be elaboration of practical recommendations aimed to support application of satellite technologies for EPMR in APEC developing economies. It is anticipated that upon returning home the participants will share the ideas and best practices obtained during the workshop, come up with new initiatives and draft recommendations for the consideration of their leadership that will improve application of satellite technologies for EPMR in their respective economies.

On the basis of the workshop results and findings the recommendations for the current situation and specific steps forward will be developed and distributed among APEC economies and non-APEC interested stakeholders. Project proceeding and final report will be distributed among APEC parties and key external stakeholders on DVD and available for download from web site; training materials (by presenters’ consent) will be shared via APEC website; press-releases will be prepared on the project key issues; APEC will be invited to publicize project results and report via APEC media outlet and communication channels.

The workshop program is to be designed in such a way that the participants could train and deliver knowledge acquired to other experts, NGOs and community representatives who was interested in the event but did not have an opportunity to visit it. Unlimited download capability of final report containing workshop presentations, reports, participants findings and recommendations for steps forward will be available on APEC web-site and will assist the participants in these endeavours.